RINGSIDE: Kieran Moriarty outside his North London home preparing a virtual day on the Ring of Kerry.

By Sean Moriarty

A London Irish man is virtually walking the Ring of Kerry in memory of his late mother. Kieran Moriarty, from Hendon, is this week walking the streets of North London and by the end of the week he hopes to have completed the same distance as the Ring of Kerry.

He is doing it memory of his late mother, Joan Nagle originally from Keel, who moved to London where she married Kerryman Michael Moriarty, from Cordal.

Joan died last January, a week before her 70th birthday. Her son decided to honour the memory of his late mother by undertaking the walk around the same time as her anniversary.

He is also raising money for UK Sepsis Trust.

He started the walk on February 1 and has given himself 28 days to complete the 200km journey.

“I’m walking the Ring of Kerry virtually in memory of my mum who passed away suddenly to sepsis last year. My mum was raised very close to the Ring and we always loved driving it during summers back home,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“I guess the biggest reason I’m doing this is I want to try and raise awareness and possibly try and prevent another family losing what we have this year. Our mum hasn’t been able to be with us for Christmas’ and birthdays, she missed the birth of my niece and will miss my wedding. If by doing this challenge I can raise enough money and awareness to prevent even one family missing out on those moments and memories being made I’ll be a very happy man and I like to think my mother would be proud also.”

Donations can be made via GoFundMe: 200K in February - Ring of Kerry virtual walk.